MALAYSIAN HUMAN RESOURCES

By RHODA HABTEMICHAEL

General Characteristics of Agricultural, Industrial, and Information Age Human Resources

Agricultural Age Human Resources:

Low percentages of literacy(60%-65% or less roughly) and low average educational levels. High school education not necessary to work in the fields in agriculture.

Industrial Age Human Resources:

Higher percentage literacy than agricultural age, based on value of at least a high school education, including for blue collar jobs. College education for management and professional jobs.

Information Age Human Resources:

Very high literacy rates of population (90%+ preferably), and ideally at least some college education or other skilled job training. Also lifetime learning, requiring everyone to regularly update their education and training in their job area. Longer lifespans also mean an average of three careers and eleven jobs in a lifetime, also requiring further education.

Information/Data on Malaysian Human Resources

Education is considered to be the key to social status and sacucess. Most students are required to learn English as well as other languages. Many Malaysians study at home or abroad. Their literacy rate averages about 78%. This represents about 85% for Peninsula and 65% for Sarawak and Sabah. Age 15 and over can read and write.

Conclusions on Malaysia

Malaysia has a rich human resource and has improved over the years over all their developmental plan. They have an adequately trained and skilled manpower in the agricultural sector and also they provid a comprehensive plan of manpower training in order for the workers to operate new technological processes and methods, high-tech equipment and new demands.